The editor of Six Foot Two tweeted on September 19 that, although David Moyes will make the final decision, the free agent may be “surplus to requirements” and “struggle to get game time” if he is handed a deal.

Despite working with the team over the summer after leaving Nottingham Forest, the former Irons loanee has not yet been given a contract.

Since they have fewer than 25 players over the age of 21 at the club, the Hammers are still able to recruit him even though the Premier League squad registration deadline has passed.

Pricey back up?

It obviously depends on how much it will cost West Ham and how much Moyes believes he can get out of Lingard before deciding whether he should be officially brought in.

He has been available for weeks without being signed, which shows that the manager doesn’t think he can get that much out of him right now.

There is minimal possibility of him playing unless he unexpectedly reverts to form because he is unlikely to be selected ahead of Mohammed Kudus, Jarrod Bowen, James Ward-Prowse, Lucas Paqueta, or even Jarrod Bowen in attacking midfield spots.

Additionally, there are Said Benrahma, Pablo Fornals, and, in principle, Maxwel Cornet to consider as backups for the supporting attack duties.

It wouldn’t be a tremendous reach for Moyes to prefer Lingard to the Ivorian, who hasn’t really taken off under the Irons manager, and Benrahma and Fornals’ futures are still up in the air.

It would therefore be possible for the manager to hire the candidate he has been pursuing for the previous two years if either of them were to depart in January, but until then, it might not make much sense unless it is a cheap transaction.